In Franeker’s historic centre stands the Royal Eise Eisinga Planetarium, the world’s oldest continuously operating planetarium. Cultural topics also include museums, church architecture and the history of kaatsen. For planning your trip, you can consider these themes separately: astronomy, Franeker’s history and a sport whose past and present can be seen in different places.
Culture between astronomy and local history
Museum Martena is housed in a historic city palace in the heart of Franeker. It tells remarkable stories about the city, the famous University of Franeker and the residents of Martenahuis. Stories of the city and university sit alongside those of Martenahuis’s residents; the planetarium offers a different, astronomical focus. This lets you explore Franeker through different themes instead of reducing its cultural sites to a single focus.
The 11Fountains fountain in Franeker offers another connection to astronomy: it is a tribute to Jan Hendrik Oort, the world-renowned astronomer born in Franeker. The planetarium and the fountain take up the theme in different ways—as a planetarium and as a dedication to a scientist.
The Martinikerk is the only medieval church in Friesland with an ambulatory. An ambulatory runs around the choir; at the Martinikerk, this feature makes its architectural distinction tangible. Concerts are also held in the church, including an annual organ concert series. If you want to include church architecture or music in your plans, check the dates of individual concerts.
Kaatsen: museum, trail and competition
The Keatsmuseum is the oldest museum in the Netherlands dedicated to a single sport. Its permanent exhibition traces the history of kaatsen. The Keatskuier offers a different way to explore it: this walking trail in Franeker leads to important and notable places and objects from the history of kaatsen. The exhibition and trail therefore offer different perspectives—on the sport’s development in the museum, and on places and objects from its history along the route.
Every year, the PC kaatsen competition takes place on the “sacred turf” of the Sjûkelân in Franeker. The competition complements the museum’s historical perspective with an annual event. Check the current event date before your trip if you want to experience the PC.
Routes and nature around Franeker
Franeker is part of the Jabikspaad, the West Frisian pilgrimage route. Near Franeker, the Idylle Waadhoeke lies along the Jabikspaad: a peaceful 2.5-hectare oasis where nature, culture and biodiversity come together. Information about this nearby natural area may change, so check for current details before visiting.
Routes to six towns
From Franeker, scenic routes lead to six of Friesland’s eleven towns. Check current navigation conditions before setting off.
The Kleiroute
The Kleiroute is a boating route across the quiet waterways of Noardwest Fryslân, starting in Franeker.
Several cycling and walking trails run through Bloemketerp. Cars are not allowed there, except for the residents of the houseboats. If you plan to visit Bloemketerp, take this restriction into account when choosing your mode of transport.
Getting around and arriving
From the Franeker Tourist Transfer Point, you can go straight into the historic Eleven Cities town. As a dedicated orientation point, it complements the cultural and route offerings with a clear starting point for exploring Franeker.
Trains run from Franeker station twice an hour; buses also travel in various directions. These include route 35 between Sneek and Franeker, route 75 between Bolsward and Harlingen, and route 97 between Harlingen Haven and Leeuwarden. Routes and services may change; check current timetables before travelling.
If you’re planning an overnight stay in Franeker, you can use a cultural site, a kaatsen event or one of the routes described as a starting point for planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Achlum, Tzummarum, Peins, Firdgum, Sexbierum, Dongjum, Hitzum.
Back to the main travel overview: Franekeradeel.
